Category Archives: News

There are of course many champions of racing. Just yesterday we saw the shock retirement of Four-time champion jump jockey Richard Johnson – a man who amassed a mind boggling 3500+ career wins and was much loved and respected by all in racing. Despite of all those wins though, and two Cheltenham Gold Cup victories, a Grand National win eluded him. Does that make him any less of a champion though? Of course not.

I feel similarly about Katie Walsh. In the above Betway Racing video Walsh explains not only how she holds the women’s record for placing third in the Grand National in 2012 (and has ridden three winners at the Cheltenham Festival), but also details the hard fought efforts across decades to carve out a place for women in racing. For me, her ‘champion’ status clearly also involves championing the well overdo recognition of woman in the sport, and in the Grand National itself. In this years Aintree Grand National three women take part (a joint record), and I’m sure that it’s only a matter of time before one of them is first past the post. Tune in on April 10th!

Here at Champions of Racing we both highlight and celebrate jockeys, and trainers who excel at the highest level in this, the sport of kings. There can be no greatest platform to demonstrate your racing credentials than the Cheltenham Festival, held in March of every year. In 2021 we get to see the likes of Al Boum Photo, Champ and A Plus Tard show us what they’re made of, and of course it’s also an opportunity for jockeys and trainers alike to excel too. A prime example of that is the Prestbury Cup, which sees Ireland and Great Britain go head to head. Betway have created their own humorous version of the Prestbury Cup in quiz form. Mark Noble and Jesse Lingard (Team UK) and Michail Antonio and Darren Randolph (Team Ireland) go head to head with their racing knowledge. Check it out.

When it comes to female jockeys’ participation in elite events, racing has reached something of a strange juncture. We can point to the fact that more work needs to be done, but we can also see tangible progress in some cases. The most important factor, however, is that some women are simply excelling at the highest level of the sport. On the flat, we can cite Hollie Doyle, who had a record-breaking 2019 and 2020, finishing fourth in the Flat Jockey’s Championship last year. Doyle was later names The Sunday Times Sportswoman of the Year for 2020.

In jumps racing, there are several names who pop up as trailblazers for female jockeys, including Bryony Frost, who became the first woman to win the King George VI Chase last month. But if we are to look ahead to the Cheltenham Festival (16-19^th March), there is one woman who could truly blow the roof off in 2021 – Rachel Blackmore. The 31-year-old from Tipperary is no stranger to success at Cheltenham. And, if you look back at Cheltenham Festival results from previous years, you’ll see she has already had some big wins, notably in the Grade 1 Mares’ Hurdle (2020) and the Albert Bartlett (2019).

However, it seems that the stars have aligned for Blackmore leading up to 2021. She has enjoyed a fruitful partnership with trainer Henry de Bromhead, whose stable is shaping up for an excellent Festival. Paul Townend, who will ride the pick of Willie Mullins’ horses, is the favourite for the top jockey award, but Blackmore is not far behind her countryman, and nobody would be surprised if she pulled it off given her book for Cheltenham 2021. Below we look at some of her best chances:

Honeysuckle

The winner of the 2020 Mares’ Hurdle, Honeysuckle is 3/1 (co-favourite with Concertista) to give Blackmore and de Bromhead another Grade 1 victory in 2021. Honeysuckle has nine wins from nine starts in her career. The only question is whether de Bromhead decides to go for a bigger prize at Cheltenham, like the Champion Hurdle. The mare is booked for the Irish Champion Hurdle on 6^th February, and that might have a big impact on his decision.

Minella Indo/A Plus Tard

At the time of writing, Minella Indo is the second-favourite for the most prestigious race at Cheltenham – the Gold Cup. The 8-year-old has shown plenty of class over the last couple of years, but there are question marks over whether he is good enough to do it in the toughest race of the Festival. A Plus Tard is just behind Minella Indo in the odds, and there is an assumption that Blackmore will opt for him over Minella Indo. Darragh O’Keefe was in the saddle when A Plus Tard beat the latter (Minella Indo fell) at Leopardstown.

Bob Olinger

A horse that has only really positioned himself as a Cheltenham chance in recent weeks, Blackmore rode Bob Olinger to a fine victory in the Grade 1 (Blackmore’s 11^th) Lawlor’s of Naas Novice Hurdle in mid-January. Bob Olinger has now been placed as 5/1 second-favourite for the Ballymore Novices’ Hurdle, just a fraction behind the Paul Nicholl’s-trained Bravemansgame in the betting odds.

Aspire Tower

Assuming that Honeysuckle avoids the Champion Hurdle, then Blackmore will likely ride 16/1 shot Aspire Tower. The horse certainly has the credentials to tempt punters in the each way markets, but questions over race favourite, Epatante, could open the door further. It would be considered a shock if Blackmore and Aspire Tower take the Champion Hurdle, but only a minor one.

Notebook

Notebook flopped at the Festival last year when favourite for the Arkle. But there are still some who believe that the 8-year-old can turn things around. He is likely to have a tilt at the Champion Chase, where he is priced up at 22/1 in the ante-post markets. Notebook finished six lengths behind current Champion Chase favourite, Chacun Pour Soi, at Leopardstown over Christmas. Another each-way chance, but don’t be shocked if Blackmore can go one better.

One of the world’s most prominent horse racing competitions, the Pegasus World Cup, will take its 5th edition in the next couple of days. On January 23, 2021, the world’s best racehorses, jockeys, and trainers will arrive at Gulfstream Park to vie for this tournament and clinch the $3 million prize at stake.

The Pegasus Cup is bringing out the top twelve most hefty and vigorous three-year-old and up racehorses today. These horses are bringing their talents and skills and the racing achievements they have earned since debut. With this, there is no reason why the 2021 Pegasus Cup is as exciting as its past seasons.

Apart from the thrilling event, betting is another reason why the Pegasus Cup is worth celebrating. For fans and sports bettors, this is the best opportunity to find the deserving Pegasus Horse Race picks to wager and win.

Here are the possible straight and exotic bets that might emerge as big winners in the Pegasus race.

Knicks Go (Win)

Missing out on the Triple Crown Series last year, Knicks Go has made it to the Pegasus World Cup this season. As Kosmo’s Buddy sire, this four-year-old colt started his journey in thoroughbred racing in 2018. This year, he made a remarkable debut in the dirt track after earning his first stakes title at the Claiborne Breeders’ Futurity.

In 2019, he participated in seven major horse racing events, which made him one of the famous colts to beat out. Some of the significant placements he made were from Sam F. Davis Stakes (5th), Stonestreet Lexington Stakes (4th), Matt Winn Stakes (5th), Ellis Park Derby(2nd), Super Derby (4th), and Commonwealth Turf Stakes (10th).

Last year, Knicks Go was a big winner at Breeders’ Cup Dirt Mile, which serves as his ticket to the Pegasus this year. Besides being one of the biggest dogs at Santa Anita last year, he bested the top favorites at Breeders’ Cup, and he might do that again in the Pegasus Cup, leaving everyone in awe.

Charlatan (Place)

Charlatan is one of the colts that the Triple Crown Series never had. Born on March 2, 2017, this colt had only accomplished two racing games since birth. During last year’s edition of the Arkansas Derby, Charlatan earned his first title at Oaklawn Park. Unfortunately, he had to be out of the many upcoming competitions after suffering a soft tissue injury.

The Kentucky Derby came along with the Preakness, and Belmont and Charlatan have missed these notable races. However, this colt had to take necessary medications to be able to go back in thoroughbred racing. Luckily, the odds are in his favor after he made a huge comeback during the Malibu Stakes last December, where he brought home the bacon.

Code of Honor (Show)

The show betting category in the Pegasus Cup allows you to pick a racehorse that can land either in first, second, or third place. Code of Honor is a present Pegasus contender that you can choose for the said category. This four-year-old colt has many things to offer, being one of the multiple-graded stakes conquerors.

Last year, Code of Honor ran at Belmont Park for the Westchester Stakes, where he got the victory. Not only that, but he was a big placer in some prominent races like the Clark Stakes (2nd), Whitney Stakes (4th), Kelso Handicap (2nd), and Metropolitan Handicap (3rd).

Charlatan and Knicks Go (Exacta)

Exacta bets are part of the Exotic horse racing wagers, which are a bit challenging. A newbie bettor can gamble for this, but most veteran punters are taking a risk on this. A horse racing bettor can pick two entries that can conquer both the second and first place in the exact order.

Out of the twelve possible entries of the 2021 Pegasus World Cup, Charlatan and Knicks Go are the closest picks you can select. As shown above, they are in the Win and Place category, dominating the whole competition. Knicks Go is an underdog, while Charlatan is one of the favorites. But regardless of their fame, they are the probable winners of the Exacta bet.

Takeaway

In horse racing, anything is possible, especially in Pegasus, where horses are selected carefully based on how they ended last year. One of the things that makes this event more exciting is the previous Pegasus champion who’s coming back to defend his crown and other significant placers who’d like to put an impressive exclamation point to their horse racing career.

Hence, the betting games will come lively as this will be a harder way of gambling for money. When you get the chance to bet in the upcoming Pegasus Cup, consider the best picks mentioned above in the category as they might appear as big winners.